Sunday Sermon

Let me speak heresy. We are not all saved because we believe in Christ. Faith alone cannot save us if we do not keep the commandments. We cannot be true believers and continue in sin. Jn.14:15: If ye love me, keep my commandments. Jn.15:10: If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 1Jn.2:3: And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 1Jn.3:22: And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 1Jn5:2: By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 1Jn.5:3: For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. Jn.14:21: He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. These scriptures make it very clear that the only way we can love God is to keep his commandments. If we do not keep the commandments we do not love God. I ask again, can you love God and continue to commit sins contrary to God's commandments.

God requires that we remain steadfast, enduring to the end. Mt.10:22: And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. Mt.24:13: But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. We must endure to the end and overcome the world or we have no part of the reward that awaits the Children of God. 1Jn,5:4: For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 1Jn.5:5: Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? Rv.2:7: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Rv.2:11: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. Rv.2:17: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. Rv.2:26: And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: Rv.3:5: He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. Rv.3:12: Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. Rv.3:21: To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. These are the rewards for those that overcome the world and have a deep love for God and his Son.

We can fall from grace. Mk.4:13: And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? 14: The sower soweth the word. 15: And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16: And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17: And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. 18: And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19: And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. 20: And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred. You can fall but if you will not try and get back up you cannot be saved. If you continue in sin, if you will not strive to keep the commandments, if you do not truly love the Savior with an abiding love you cannot be saved in the Kingdom of God. Jn.15:23: He that hateth me hateth my Father also. 2Pt.2:20: For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21: For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. I asked again, do you really believe that once you are saved, that's it, instant free pass into heaven? Do think that you can continue to sin the same old sins and still be saved?

Salvation through our faith in Christ is free, not for the taking, but for the asking. Our salvation is conditional on our love for God and his Son through whom our salvation comes. If we do not keep the commandments, we do not love Him. If we do not love Him, then we have no part in the Kingdom of Heaven. If we do not have a part in Heaven, then our abode will be Hell. Nowhere can it be found where it says that if we do not run the race, if do not endure to the end, if we do not overcome the world, can we be saved if we but believed for just a little while and then go our own way. Our salvation is conditional on enduring to the end, loving God all our days, and keeping His commandments.

This is why I petition the Lord daily for his salvation and that I may not stray from the path. And, I pray that if I do stray from the path that the Lord will help my feet to find the path again. Yes, we may fall, but we get up again and continue to strive to do what is right. As often as we seek Him we shall find Him, and as often as we ask with real intent we shall be forgiven. This is the promise of my Lord's salvation. I renew myself daily. I wash myself in the blood of the Lamb daily that I may be found spotless on the Last Day. I seek my salvation daily least I forget who I am, stray from the path, and become forever lost. Amen.